AmberThe restaurant Kris took me to was a five-star restaurant on the top floor of a luxury hotel; those were the kinds of places we used to go to. He and I didn't say much until we arrived at the table we reserved in the VIP area of the restaurant. We sat down and ordered the menu. Moments later, he was sipping his wine, looking everywhere but at me. "When did this happen?" I asked him after a while; he had to explain to me properly what was happening. “She told me a few days ago that she was pregnant,” he replied with his head down. He knew that we would be in big trouble if this woman decided to reveal that to the media. I sighed, knowing that I was going to be stressed about that subject. “But how did you let this happen, Kris? Who in the 21st century gets pregnant without wanting to?” I was exasperated. Why did he insist on getting me in trouble? “Contrary to what you think, I took precautions, okay? I took all the necessary precautions, but the condom broke...” he confess
Nancy“So you and Jake don’t talk anymore?” Lanie wonders as she and I eat our breakfast. I hadn't seen Jake for a couple of days since the conversation I had with him in the restaurant that had a view of the imposing High Roller. He hasn't called me since that day. “I think he’s already decided what he wants for himself, and if he wants to get away from me, that's okay; I understand his position,” I replied, pouring myself a glass of orange juice. “And why do you think he decided to do that?” she asked, as if probing me. “It looks like he's fallen in love with me, Lanie,” I told her, wiping my mouth with the tablecloth. Her eyes lit up with that information. “Wow! Then it finally happened! So since when is that a reason to keep him out of your life? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” she asked, looking excited by this revelation. “Don’t be so reckless, Lanie; You know I have the thing with Bruce to sort out." I sighed with my thoughts downcast. “You know he's never going to
NancyMoments later, he and I were lying in bed with only the blankets covering our bodies; our bodies lazily intertwined with each other as we talked and smiled passionately at each other. “Why is your hand so big, Jake?” I asked him with our palms touching each other; His hand was twice as big as mine, making me look very small. “It is because you’re little,” he replied, tickling my nose while giggling mischievously. I grimaced, wrinkling my nose at the tickle, and laughed. "Stop it; I’m not that small,” I told him, my lips ending up forming a sly pout. “For me, you are smallie, my little doll,” he replied, kissing my lips tenderly, making my heart almost explode with happiness. It was just so good to be with him like this while everything seemed peaceful; he was able to bring so much tranquility and peace into my life that it was almost impossible to describe. “You must really be very in love with me to trade your vacation to be with me,” I teased him. “I think the cupid of l
Nancy I went to open the door completely innocent of who I was going to see there, I wouldn't have thought in a million years that it would be Bruce standing there in front of the door. And he was looking me up and down like I was a cheap whore for only wearing a t-shirt and nothing else with my legs exposed. “Nancy?” He found it strange, and there was repulsion in his eyes. "What are you doing here?" I asked in a rapid voice. What did he think he was doing coming after me? “What do you mean, what am I doing here? I came to get you, right? Go get your things; the helicopter is still on,” he ordered, entering the house. But I stood in front of him, preventing him from entering. “If you want to enter by force, I’ll call the police,” I warned with my furious eyes. “Are you crazy, woman? Get out of my way!" he sent. “This isn't your home, Bruce Morton. So if you don't want to go to jail for trespassing, it's better not to go in without permission,” I insisted, standing firmly in his way
Nancy Bruce Morton couldn't predict what was going to happen next. Jake pumped his fist and punched Bruce in the face so hard that my ex-husband lost his balance and skidded to the ground with his hands covering his bruised and dazed face, blood spreading across his face. “I warned you that if you cursed her again, I would beat you up, you piece of shit,” said Jake, still tense. “Oh, my God, Jake,” I stammered in fear, holding him by his arm. “Don’t do that; this man is very dangerous; he could harm you,” I said to him with watery eyes. I knew from the moment I saw Bruce there at the door of Lanie's apartment when I went to open the door that Jake was going to hit him as soon as he saw him. After all, he had seen my entire journey so far; he had seen how weakened I was because of this man. It was clear he hated Bruce for having made me suffer so much, and of course, he would try to protect me at all costs even though he now knew the tremendous threat that Bruce represented due to the
GloryThe couple had me and Charles sitting on the sofa in front of us. Candace had her arms wrapped around Harald's arm, clinging to him as if the man were the oxygen she needed to breathe. My mouth had a sour taste at the sight. Was my disgusted face showing? Because I couldn't pretend to be calm anymore, not when that girl had decided to make my life so miserable. Even Charles had already found out that she and I didn't get along due to the frequent arguments I was having with this girl; things were simply getting out of control, and I couldn't hold back any longer. “Charles and Glory, my husband and I asked to speak to you privately because we have something to announce to you,” the girl said with a fake smile, feigning enthusiasm. Her straight blonde hair fell freely down her back like a curtain of well-hydrated strands. She was annoying, but I couldn't deny the fact that she was pretty, which only made me more and more worried. I was pretty, actually beautiful, and Harald sai
Glory“So this is what you two decided? Are you really going to leave this house and go live somewhere else?” Charles asked after Harald's comment about him preferring his eldest son over his middle son; Charles had preferred to ignore that and focus on the issue the couple asked to talk to us about. "Yes, father. That has already been decided,” Harald responded, as he had been since that conversation began. I just lowered my head, embarrassed by the position he was putting me in. Our relationship was ugly, based on secrecy; there were secret meetings in strategic places both there in the mansion and in other corners of Denver, and they were done with great care and attention so as not to let anyone know about it. It was little, but at least it was something, but now that he would be far away I didn't understand how he and I would see each other from now on. “Don’t look so sad, Charles,” my husband’s daughter-in-law said, feigning sweetness. “You want a grandson, right? So Harald a
Candace“Okay, Candace. You already have what you wanted. So stop putting on this annoying little show!” Harald ordered, defending his irritating mistress. His hand was still in hers after he stopped her from hitting my face. “Why don't you just go pack your bags? Your slave here is already following you.” A slave? He thought I was enslaving him. Oh God, what good news then!I clapped my hands in a childish way to irritate them even more and jumped up while celebrating. “Yeeeeey! What woman wouldn't want to be in my place, right? Having her husband give himself so much and be willing to fulfill all her wishes? I truly am an accomplished woman!” he exclaimed with an exaggerated expression that was almost comical, so I stole Harald's lips in an insulting kiss and walked away before he even realized what was happening. I ran out of that office while laughing, just to make them hurt. Not only that, but I knew Glory was fuming with rage now that I had dared to kiss her beloved in front of
Nancy“Argh, don’t tighten it too much… You’re hurting my neck!” Peter was grumbling with a grimace as I straightened his tie.“Remain calm; just lift your chin; I’m almost done,” I told him, adjusting my collar. Today was my wedding day with Jake. I was already dressed as a bride and everything, and the ceremony would start in a few minutes. I was so nervous. Not only that, but I really hoped everything would go well.He grumbled in disgust. “Did you know that children shouldn’t be present at their parents’ weddings, Mom?” he said, making me frown.“What? Why do you think that?” I asked.“Because naturally, children are not born before their parents marry. It's not the natural order of things, let alone divorce and second marriages,” he said, being clear in his opinion, as he didn't want to accept my relationship with Jake.I sighed, smoothing his jacket after straightening his tie. “You're getting so big. You're even taller than me.” I smiled softly, and I stroked his black hair. “I
NancyMoments later, Jason and Jake were in the wine cellar, somewhere in the mansion, talking about wine and things like that. Laura and I were walking in the manicured gardens of their mansion, which were so beautiful and comforting.“Why aren’t they coming?” I asked after a while, looking behind me to see if her husband and my fiancé were coming to catch up with us, since they were just getting us some wine to drink and talk on the sofas that were there in the garden under a cozy porch."Oh my God! Jason must have stuck him with a long wine conversation,” Laura said with a long chuckle. “We received bottles of the first line from a friend of ours in Chicago, Carter,” she added.“Are you talking about Joshua Carter?” I asked because I knew that name and knew that he had a wine production company.“Yes, I am,” Laura nodded. “What a fortuity that you know him, too.”“Um, I actually met him because of Bruce,” I said. “The Mortons were an influential family, and from time to time Bruce
NancyJake and I traveled to New York to visit our friends who lived there, the couple Jason and Laura Davies, who, since the last time we had seen them, had evolved a lot in their relationship, that is, when I met them, they were still fighting and trying to see what they were going to do in their relationship because they also had issues to resolve. But I remembered Laura's words, when she told me at the time that her husband had hurt her heart, but that nothing he had done compared to what Bruce had done to me. So today it was very satisfying for me to be able to see the two of them together and happy after having solved all their problems. They had even had another set of twins, and they seemed so happy now that their eldest daughter was playing with the babies, running around exuding happiness and joy while Jake, I, and the couple were sitting on the mansion's porch, drinking wine and talking about everything that had happened. This couple had been very important in helping us
Nancy "What? Give it back in kind and make him taste his own medicine? What are you suggesting, Lanie?” I asked, being a little dumbfounded. She and I were still at the dinner table, and she had just suggested that. She shrugged now. "Yes. Didn't your husband go to bed with someone else? Then you also go to bed with another man, and then you become equals,” she explained, making me gasp. “How can you suggest such a thing? Do you think I'm such a vulgar woman up to this point? Do you think me going to bed with another man will solve things for me?” I asked, shocked that she was suggesting such a deviant thing. “It probably won't solve anything, but it will make you feel a little better. What is it? Do you think Bruce deserves happiness after all these years he played with you?” She retorted. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to smudge my body by getting involved with someone I don’t know just to get revenge on him,” I countered. Lanie laughed, waving her hand. “I don't see it
Days were passing, and I thanked the heavens that everything was going so well, but today in particular, it was a year since Lanie, my dear friend, had died, and I was terribly sad remembering her.I remembered how she had done everything she could to cheer me up when I was at rock bottom after finding out who Bruce Morton really was.I remembered in detail what the season at her house had been like and how much she helped me, God in heaven...Nancy On that day, the ringing of my cell phone woke me up, and I felt my lamp, picked up the device, and saw that my daughter was calling me. “Hi, my love,” I said as soon as I answered, rubbing my face with my hand, still drowsy. “Hello, Mom? Haven’t you come home yet?” Amber asked on the other end of the line. "Um… Not yet, darling,” I replied a little fearfully. It had been two weeks since I was at my friend Lanie's house. "Um... Okay? When do you plan to return?” She asked in a somewhat petulant manner. I sighed. “To be honest, I
NancyThe last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions. After everything that happened with Candace, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders. The scars of pain and struggle were still there, but the feeling of relief was in the air. It was a new beginning for all of us. Like a good mother, I tried my best to care for Candace, and now, seeing her at home, taking a deep breath and starting to rebuild her life, my heart is filled with hope.It was on a mild morning that we realized that life was returning to normal. Amber's laughter echoed through the house as she tried to decide what to wear for a date. I watched her from the kitchen, where she was preparing a simple but nutritious breakfast. The smell of toasting bread mixed with the aroma of fresh coffee, creating a welcoming atmosphere.“Amber, do you need help?” I asked, trying to hide my smile at seeing her so excited and nervous at the same time.“No, mom, I can do it!” she replied, a little louder than usua
CandaceThe joy I felt holding my daughter in my arms was indescribable. After hours of pain and struggle, the little one was finally here, and I couldn't stop smiling. It was a girl. The doctor had shown me quickly, and I couldn't believe that this little creature, so perfect, was my daughter. I felt a wave of love that I had never experienced before, and that feeling enveloped me like a warm blanket on a cold day. I looked at her face, so small and vulnerable, and wondered what the future held for us.Jake and Harald were in the room, both overjoyed with the news. The energy was contagious, and the happiness in the atmosphere was palpable, like happy music that filled every space. The smell of disinfectant mixed with the light scent of flowers someone had brought, creating an atmosphere of celebration and hope."Look, Candace, you did an amazing job!" Jake said it with a wide smile that lit up his face. He seemed genuinely touched, and I could feel that he was genuinely happy for me
NancyThe morning seemed perfect, the kind of day I always imagined as a normal family, without constant tension or fears. Recent times had been full of challenges, losses and changes, but being there, in Jake's house, surrounded by the people he loved most, brought a feeling of completeness. Everything felt a little lighter. Of course, there were still traces of the past that occasionally appeared in our conversations and gestures, but something had changed within me, and perhaps even within my children.That day, we decided to have a family lunch. Me, Amber, Peter, Jake, Harald, Ivor and Candace, all gathered at a table for the first time, without formalities and without protocols. I wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting, especially with Harald there, a presence that, some time ago, would perhaps have been unthinkable in such an intimate environment. But, little by little, everyone had found a way to live together, with the wounds still healing, but now ready for a new phase.
NancyThe next morning, very early, before the sun even fully illuminated the house, I was already awake, organizing my thoughts. I knew I needed to talk to Amber and Peter, just the three of us, without Jake around. This moment was very important, and I wanted them to feel comfortable saying what they really thought, without fear. I knew this conversation was necessary, as there was a lot at stake. Jake was part of this new life I wanted to build, but most of all, my children needed to feel part of it.I took a deep breath before entering their room. Amber was already stretching, her eyes still sleepy, but she noticed my presence and smiled. Peter, still sleeping soundly, had a serene face, something rare to see. I approached him gently, touching his shoulder lightly. “Peter, honey, are we going to wake up? I need to talk to you and Amber. Just the three of us, without Jake.”He opened his eyes slowly, still confused from sleep, but nodded. Amber looked at me with a mix of curiosity